FDA approves first drug for primary progressive MS

[Chris0nllyn]

U.S. regulators have approved the first drug for an aggressive kind of multiple sclerosis that steadily reduces coordination and the ability to walk.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Ocrevus late Tuesday after a large study found it slowed progression of the neurological disease and reduced symptoms.

The drug was developed by Genentech, part of Swiss drugmaker the Roche Group. Genentech, based in South San Francisco, California, said the initial list price without insurance will be $65,000 a year.

In the study testing Ocrevus for primary progressive MS, which involved 732 patients, Ocrevus had a "modest but definite slowing effect on the rate at which people develop disabilities," said Lublin

Ocrevus will be available in the U.S. within two weeks, Genentech said, noting the average price of MS medicines has quadrupled over the past 12 years. As a "first step" in reversing that trend, the company said, it priced Ocrevus 25 percent below Rebif's list price

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fda-approves-1st-drug-aggressive-142931138.html

 

[stgislander]

I'm guessing one will be able to purchase it in Canada or Mexico for a fraction of the price.

 

[This_person]

I'm guessing one will be able to purchase it in Canada or Mexico for a fraction of the price.

Are you saying the people of the United States should bear the brunt of the R & D costs?